Post on 26-Sep-2015
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Simplifying strata management starts here.
Introducing i.fresh strata and a better way of working together.
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ContentsWho are we? ...........................................................04
What do we do? ......................................................05
How do we do it? ....................................................06
How much does all this cost? ...................................08
How do you switch to i.fresh strata? ..........................10
What to expect moving forward ................................13
Got a question? ......................................................13
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Who are we?We are i.fresh strata and our experienced team provides a complete strata and community title management service for residential, commercial and mixed-use properties.
As strata management specialists, our portfolio ranges from three-lot residential properties, to 200+ lot mixed-use schemes, to high-rise CBD apartments. And as members of Strata Community Australia (Western Australia), it goes without saying that were fully insured and accredited.
But crucially, were totally independent.
No real estate affiliations. No surreptitious commissions. No conflicts of interest.
Thats important. It means were able to draw on our professional expertise, as well as our own frustrating personal experiences as strata owners dealing with other strata management companies, to create a more proactive strata management service and solution. Indeed, thats why we created i.fresh strata. And its whats fuelled our strong, year-after-year growth since we started out in 2007.
Why are the first 12 months contract-free?
Because we believe in our service. Were confident youll see the value in our unique way of working, from day one. But we also believe you have a right to walk away if you arent 100% satisfied. No hassles, hard feelings or risk.
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What do we do?In a nutshell, everything strata. But while we handle every aspect of strata and community management, we only focus on one thing making life easier and less stressful for you and your fellow councillors/owners. Thats why we offer:
Contract-free management for the first year.
A flat inclusive fee, with no hidden costs.
Extended office hours and 24/7 online maintenance requests.
Flexible financial reporting choose the format you want.
Secure online account access to strata documents, strata by-laws, house rules, account transactions and historic levy notices.
Regular SMS notifications, including meeting reminders, house rules and newsletter updates relating to the property.
Virtual meetings, so you can attend meetings remotely via PC, smartphone or tablet.
Our proprietary engaged management ethos.
But more about whats included in our flat management fee and our engaged management ethos later.
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i.fresh have a great communication policy where everything goes through the chair, allowing us to be loaded up with the key information we need to make informed council decisions.
S. Elder, Perth CBD
How do we do it?Proactively. Collaboratively. Ethically. Where others wait to be asked, we work together with you as a team which means were able to take the initiative. Where others are less than transparent about costs, were upfront, always. Its a philosophy we call engaged management.
How does engaged management work?
For us, engaged management is a common-sense ethos, but its one thats established us as pioneers in Western Australia. Weve structured our team, systems and processes to ensure were always:
Accessible. Our communication policy dictates that we respond to you promptly, but also encourages two-way communication. This is important. It means feedback is constantly flowing back and forth.
Accountable. Together with you, well establish a vision for your strata property. Instead of reacting as events demand attention, well set objectives and establish action lists, then take action accordingly.
Active. In an industry thats traditionally reactive, we dont simply sit around waiting for you to ask us for help or quotes. Were proactive. We anticipate. We make suggestions and recommendations.
Accessible
Accountable
Active
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Walking the talk: our service level charterSo youre thinking this all sounds great, but talk is cheap, right? We hear you. Thats why weve set out a Service Level Charter outlining our commitment to:
Respond to all written council communications within 24 hours
Provide dedicated accounts and maintenance personnel to expedite responses
Provide clear and robust communication flow, ensuring instructions are understood and followed
Offer direct access to your accredited strata manager
Provide 24-hour website access to your strata property details, including historic levy notices, meeting minutes, newsletters, insurance documents and your specific owner details
Extend our office hours, Monday to Friday
You can find out more about our charter and communication policy at www.ifresh.com.au, or simply contact us for more info.
With i.fresh strata, we experienced a complete management framework and a whole-team approach. Brilliant!
M. Dawson, Northbridge
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General
Prepare annual general meeting agendas.
Prepare draft budgets for annual general meetings.
Attend annual general meetings. Meetings scheduled to begin prior to 5:30pm on a weekday (an additional fee may be incurred for later start times).
Chair annual general meetings (if required).
Prepare and distribute general meeting documentation.
Respond to all communications and queries. This includes all council communications, advice, options, recommendations and all general communications, including breach notices and owner queries.
Maintain a record of owners details.
Administer common seal duties.
Provide guidance on by-laws.
Visit the property annually. On request from the Council of Owners, we will attend the property at least once a year, as a familiarisation task.
Archive strata company records. Archives are indexed, categorised and then held in secure off-site storage. Please note, the retrieval of archives will attract a small third-party delivery fee.
Assist with the drafting of additional by-laws and amendments to existing by-laws.
Register by-laws. Please note, separate Landgate (Government) fees will apply for all by-law lodgements.
How much does all this cost?Are we the cheapest strata managers around? No. However, if you compare us with other management companies, youll see that our flat fee includes a host of services and less tangible benefits that others simply dont provide.
What services do you get for your money?Heres whats included as standard with all of our contracts:
Financial
All accounts receivable tasks. This includes issuing levy notices and receipting owner funds.
All accounts payable tasks. This includes managing vendor invoice payments.
Maintain full financial records.
Maintain payroll records. We outsource this task to a qualified accountant.
Register the strata company for ABN/GST (if applicable). We outsource this task to a qualified tax agent.
Prepare BAS/company tax returns. We outsource this task to a qualified tax agent.
Prepare section 43(c) certificates. Legislation states a processing fee must be charged for this task; however, this cost is passed on to the requesting party, so no cost is attributed to the strata company, unless the company is not registered for GST.
Administer utility sub meter on billing/invoicing (if applicable).
Provide monthly financial statements.
Administer debt collection procedures. Costs relating to our debt collection procedure will be passed on to the offending lot owner, providing a debt recovery by-law is in place. If no by-law is currently in existence, we strongly recommend ensuring this by-law is adopted at a general meeting.
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Item Charge
Council of Owners meetings. Attend, chair or prepare and distribute documentation for a council meeting.
$210 per hour
Extraordinary general meetings. Attend, chair or prepare and distribute documentation for an extraordinary general meeting.
$210 per hour
Adjourned general meetings. Attend an adjourned general meeting, including preparing and distributing documentation, as well as chairing the meeting, if required.^
$1,000 flat fee
Major project management. For example, assisting with a major works project outside the scope of normal or general maintenance, such as structural renovations.
$210 per hour
Handover or exit fees. These one-off fees cover auditing and managing incoming records and financials when you become an i.fresh strata client, or closing off and handing over your records if you choose to leave us.
$500-$1,000(one-off fee)
Insurance*
Renew insurance policies and source insurance policy quotes. Please note, if your strata companys insurance policy is placed with an insurance broker that isnt an i.fresh strata partner*, these tasks will be administered by the broker, as part of their brokerage fee.
Maintenance
Administer tradespeople for the common property.
Obtain repair and maintenance quotes for the common property.
Liaise with the caretaker/building/facility manager, as required (if applicable).
*Disclosure. In the interests of complete transparency, please note that i.fresh strata is an agent for CHU and a select group of strata insurance
brokers we work with both CHU and our partnering brokers because they have specialist experience in the strata industry market. As such, we
receive a commission of 15-20% from CHU and our partnering brokers, which covers our claim administration and renewals costs. We reiterate
our agent status at every general meeting we attend.
What isnt included?
Occasionally, things crop up that require additional time. It might be that a general meeting is adjourned, or that were asked to attend a regular council meeting, or manage an extracurricular project. In these cases, we have to charge an additional fee.
^We understand the difficulties of arranging general meetings and securing the attendance of owners. Rest assured, we go to great lengths to ensure
quorums are achieved via reminder emails, Outlook diary appointments and calls. We also provide the option of online meeting facilities, so owners
can attend remotely.
What does inclusive mean?
Some strata managers quote a fee, but then bill the strata company for a host of everyday items and activities postage, phone calls, admin, petties. At i.fresh strata, we dont. In fact, generally, even if we have to go beyond the scope of our contract to fulfil our commitment to you, well happily do so, free of charge. Its all part of our engaged
management ethos.
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Are you tied to a management
contract?
YES
YES
CONTINuE WITH YOuR CuRRENT
STRATA MANAGER
NEGOTIATE OuT OF YOuR CONTRACT
NO
NO
CALL AN EGM TO GAIN
APPROVAL
Do you have authority to appoint
a new strata management
company?
Appoint your new strata management
company
How do you switch to i.fresh strata?Switching from one strata management company to another doesnt have to be a headache. Its easier than you think, and we can guide you through the process, step by step.
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Were here to help with the handover
If you choose to switch to i.fresh strata, once the Council of Owners has advised the incumbent manager, well contact the incumbent to arrange a suitable time to collect your strata companys records, keys, remote control access transmitters, financial statements, plan, etc.
Once we have all the necessary records, we will load your data onto our systems and notify all relevant vendors/suppliers of the switch to i.fresh. We will also contact all owners and supply login details to our website. This can take up to seven working days.
After that, well arrange a First council meeting where we formally introduce ourselves to the Council of Owners. At the meeting, we will identify the councils key goals for the coming year and lay the foundations for a successful strata management partnership.
1. Is your strata company currently under a management contract?
If youre unsure whether your strata company is currently locked into a management contract, ask if your fellow councillors have a copy of the contract or check with your strata management company.
If the answer is yes you have two options:
Continue with your current management company for the term of the contract; or
Negotiate out of the current contract.
If the answer is no or you have negotiated out of the contract
As a Council of Owners, you are then required to establish if you have the necessary authority to engage a new management company.
2. Does your Council of Owners have the authority to appoint a new strata management company?
Check the by-laws of your strata scheme. There may be specific by-laws in place that state this type of decision can only be made at a general meeting of all owners.
If the Council of Owners does not have the authority, call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to obtain approval from the owners.
If no specific by-law(s) exist, the Council of Owners has the authority to engage a new strata manager (under Schedule 1, by-law 8 (2)(b) of the Strata Title Act 1985).
3. Appoint your new strata management company
Once the Council of Owners has the authority to engage a new strata management company (in accordance with section 48(1) of the Strata Titles Act 1985), the council is obliged to give their existing management company at least seven days notice (in writing) of their intention to collect the books and records.
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What to expect moving forwardOnce youve engaged i.fresh strata, you can expect an engaged strata management experience from day one. More accessible. More accountable. More active.
Engaged management in action
Our experienced team will engage with you and your fellow owners to establish a vision for your strata community and property, then proactively partner with you to achieve it.
Well do this by:
Working with you and your council as a collaborative team.
Ensuring open, two-way communication and feedback.
Employing our trademark positive management style.
Offering proactive recommendations on all strata issues.
Resolving conflicts and issues, quickly and directly.
Providing extended office hours and flexible financial reporting.
Keeping all stakeholders engaged and up to date through regular SMS notifications, updates and meeting reminders.
Got a question?We understand that strata management and choosing a strata management partner can feel overwhelming. Thats why weve tried to anticipate and answer all of your questions here. But if weve missed anything, please let us know.
If youd like more information about our flat inclusive fee, communications policy, service charter or engaged management ethos or anything else about our services or proven processes heres how to contact us:
Call us on +61 8 6500 0260
Email us at info@ifresh.com.au
Skype us at username: i.fresh
Visit us at Level 1, 31/226 Beaufort Street, Perth 6000
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i.fresh strata is a member of i.fresh strata support
community title management
i.fresh strata and community title management abn 42 123 927 524 po box 8664 perth business centre western australia 6849 t. +61 8 6500 0260 f. +61 8 6311 7396 e. info@ifresh.com.au skype. i.fresh ifresh.com.au
community title management
i.fresh strata and community title management abn 42 123 927 524 po box 8664 perth business centre western australia 6849 t. +61 8 6500 0260 f. +61 8 6311 7396 e. info@ifresh.com.au skype. i.fresh ifresh.com.au14